Stella Cole performs live at The Birchmere on Dec. 10, 2025. (Photo by James Todd Miller)
One of the best Christmas shows of the season occurred at The Birchmere recently when Stella Cole brought her Holiday show to Alexandria. Cole is currently conducting a tour throughout the holiday season and is playing some of the most known Christmas songs as well as some of the best songs known covering artists such as George Gershwin, Anthony Newley, Glenn Miller, Osvaldo Farres, Irving Berlin, Mel Torme, Perry Como, Hugh Martin, Herman Hupfeld, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, and Henry Mancini.
Too Many Zooz perform live at The Atlantis on Dec. 10, 2025. (Photo by Christina Anwara)
I recently caught Too Many Zooz at The Atlantis in DC, and honestly, they had me hooked before they even played a note. I did a quick Google search about them beforehand and was immediately pulled in by their bright, eclectic aesthetic. Their bold colors and chaotic energy felt like foreshadowing for whatever wild sonic universe they were about to drop on us, so my curiosity was fully sparked from the jump.
John Mulaney has strong ties to DC. He graduated from Georgetown University in 2004! There he also met his “work wife” Nick Kroll. And it’s no surprise that the two gents went on to funnyman stardom in their collaborations together and separately.
Now a standup juggernaut, John, who has a delightful knowledge of pop culture, brings his fast-on-his-feet wit to The Anthem for five shows in his new Mister Whatever Tour. Three of those five shows have sold out, but you can still grab tix for the last two on Saturday, Dec. 20, and Sunday, Dec. 21.
Parklife DC will name the best local band, music festival, and venue of the year with your input. Write-in candidates are welcome in all categories. Parklife DC will honor DC bands and venues with our annual Thrushie Awards program, named for our mascot, DC’s own state bird — the Wood Thrush.
A best local DC band must perform in the continuum of indie rock clubs that we cover around the metro area, and they must have released new music in the past year.
The Thrushie Awards are open to DC-area music festivals. These festivals are in the National Capital Region, and often they occur annually.
The Thrushie Awards are open to DC-area music venues that host touring bands. These venues must be occupied by its owner-operator and not a “for-rent” concert hall operated by an independent agent.
Learn more about each nominee by clicking on their name in keywords.
As always, our Thrushie Awards are inspired by our mission to review live music concerts and spotlight bands and concert halls covered by Parklife DC. Voting for Thrushies runs through Friday, Dec. 13, at midnight, and you get to vote for your favorite DC band, festival, and concert hall!
The Happy Fits perform live at 9:30 Club on Dec. 3, 2025. (Photo by Carolin Harvey)
The New Jersey based four-piece band, The Happy Fits, recently put on a delightful pop-rock show at the 9:30 Club. The band consists of founding members Calvin Langman (cello, vocals) and Luke Davis (drums, vocals) — and recent 2024 additions Nico Rosenbach (guitar, vocals) and Raina Mullen (guitar, vocals). The quartet are a powerhouse of buoyant energy with dancey tunes and catchy melodies to keep you grooving long after the show ends.
Ingrid Michaelson performs live at the Lincoln Theatre in DC on Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo by James Todd Miller)
Ingrid Michaelson, who has been to Lincoln Theatre many times in the past, arrived for a recent stop on her 2025 Holiday Hop Tour, which also helps to support her latest album, For the Dreamers, released in late 2024. The voice, known for hits “The Way I Am” in 2006 and “Girls Chase Boys” in 2014, was in superb vocal form during the show. Her show featured songs from her catalog but was mainly a Christmas show to get everyone in the mood for the Holidays.
Steve Gunn performs live at DC9 on Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo by Casey Vock)
Steve Gunn has charted a unique, eclectic course in his musical career. The guitar virtuoso and singer-songwriter has collaborated with numerous partners, making both instrumental music that crosses into the avant-garde as well as more song-oriented albums that draw on roots music traditions. About a month ago, he released his latest album, Daylight Daylight, which falls into the latter category.
In his recent performance at DC9, Steve focused on this new material and some of his older traditional songs and a couple of well-chosen covers, while still showing off his impressive chops on the axe.
Portugal. The Man performs live at The Anthem on Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by James Todd Miller)
Portugal. The Man arrived at The Anthem in DC on Friday on their Denali 2025 tour in support of their latest album Shish. The band from Wasilla, Alaska, were in great form with lights and sound throughout the evening.
The Band Feel performs live at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center on Dec. 6, 2025. (Photo by Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography)
The Band Feel On a Winter Night at HMAC Words and Photos by Mike Sprouse / Odd Rocker Photography
There’s a particular kind of cold that settles on Herr Street in December. It’s not the dramatic, cinematic stuff, but the kind that sneaks under your jacket and hangs around. Walking into HMAC on Saturday night, The Band Feel took that space and made it feel warmer, like someone cracked open a stove in the corner and fed it a slow-burning stack of kindling. The room buzzed with that familiar low hum, a few too-loud laughs and a quiet anticipation that rolled through the crowd like a slow tide.
Enslow performs live at DC9 on Dec. 4, 2025. (Photo by Roman Meerzaman)
Baltimore came to DC and really brought the heat on our first snow day of the season. There was an uncertainty in the air; could three small artists from Maryland fill the cozy DC9 with a lively crowd? When the first opener, The Soularites, kicked off the show for headliner Enslow, you could tell everyone was still thawing out a bit, with everyone standing as far away from the stage that such an intimate venue can allow for.
The shyness did not last long, thanks to some playful jabs from the lead singer and a very magnetic horn section, the crowd almost all at once decided to loosen up and approach the stage.
